Malaysia-bound Haval Jolion launched in Thailand – Hybrid only, priced from RM 111k

Great Wall Motors (GWM) Thailand has been very busy in 2021, launching not one, not two, but three new models in the Kingdom this past year alone. Following the launch of the Haval H6 and Ora Good Cat comes the Haval Jolion.

The Thai-spec Jolion is only available with a hybrid powertrain and there are three variants to choose from:

• Tech – THB 879,000 (~RM 111,000)
• Pro – THB 939,000 (~RM 119,000)
• Ultra – THB 999,000 (~RM 126,000)

Comparitively, the most expensive Jolion variant costs around the price of the base Honda HR-V e:HEV (THB 979,000) and easily undercuts the base Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid (THB 1,089,000) despite being feature-packed.

Also read: All-new 2022 Honda HR-V launched in Thailand, hybrid only, from RM 123k

Thailand is the first market to offer the Jolion with a hybrid engine as other markets like South Africa and Australia only offer a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine (152 PS/220 Nm). The Jolion HEV is powered by a similar unit with the addition of an electric motor with a combined power output of 243 PS and 530 Nm.

Also read: Haval Jolion debuts in Thailand, CKD at Rayong, export to Malaysia on the cards

The engine is similar to the one that’s available on its bigger brother, the Haval H6 Hybrid. Though the Jolion competes against the Toyota Corolla Cross and the Subaru XV, it is larger in terms of dimensions.

As a matter of fact, the Jolion is only 181 mm shorter in length than the H6. Both the Jolion and H6 are built on GWM’s LEMON platform.

Also read: 2021 Haval H6: Launching in Malaysia as an X70 rival, here's a brief review from Thailand

Even though the Jolion is sold in numerous markets around the world (in China, it’s called the Haval First Love), the Jolion HEV sports some minor design changes. Aside from the HEV badges, it also gets redesigned bumpers and headlights.

Yet, the Jolion is quite a distinctive-looking SUV. The massive DRLs that lined along the front bumper also double as turn signals when engaged which makes it unmissable for other drivers ahead.

Tech and Pro variants come equipped with 17-inch wheels while the top-of-the-range Ultra variant gets larger 18-inch wheels.

When it comes to features, the Jolion won’t shortchange you at all. In fact, just sitting in the SUV gives a bit of a Land Rover vibe, from the drive-by-wire gear selector to the Haval’s logo on the steering wheel.

Also read: Priced from RM 800k, all-new 2021 L663 Land Rover Defender 110 launched in Malaysia

Standard features on all three variants of the Jolion are:

• 7-inch digital instrument display
• Automatic dual-zone climate control
• 10.25-inch infotainment unit with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto

The Pro variant adds on automatic side mirrors, ventilated seats, and rear air-cond vents. The top-of-the-range Ultra gets all the bells and whistles including:

• Panoramic sunroof
• Head-up display
• Qi wireless charger
• 12.3-inch infotainment display
• PM 2.5 air filter system

Even the safety features are abundant with 6 airbags, AEB, Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Lane Keep Assist (LKA), and Blind-spot Warning available as standard.

Higher variants get a full suite of ADAS including:

• Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with stop & go
• Traffic sign detection
• Rear cross traffic alert (RCTA)
• Rear cross traffic braking (RCTB)
• Low Speed Emergency Brake Assist (LSEB)
• Rear Collision Warning (RCW)

It’s really impressive to see the Jolion packed with so many features for a very affordable price. In fact, in many markets, the Jolion is one of the hottest SUVs on sale and there’s no doubt that it would follow the H6 in expanding Haval's popularity in the Kingdom.

Also read: A Chinese hybrid SUV outsold the Honda CR-V to become Thailand’s best-selling C-SUV in Aug 2021

As we’ve reported, GWM Thailand is looking to export more models from their Rayong plant to other markets in ASEAN like the Jolion and Haval H6. Both models are expected to be brought over to Malaysia but for now, Haval's local distributor, Go Auto, has been quite silent.

Also read: Spied: Haval First Love spotted in Malaysia!

If the Jolion is brought over in Malaysia, it might be a winner but that is if the price can match with contemporary Japanese rivals like the Corolla Cross and HR-V.